GIANTS IN THE LAND

GIANTS IN THE LAND

Some people today may class belief in giants right along with belief in the Tooth Fairy. It's true that giants do make up the villains in some famous fairy tales, but giants are different. They are real. We can be sure of this because the Bible speaks a great deal about giants, and we can implicitly trust the words of this old book.

Strange thing about giants - we hardly ever hear of a happy one. There is the possible exception of the "Jolly Green Giant," who is the trademark of one US canning company. Neither do we hear of a nice one, or a loving one. Both the giants of legend and the giants of the Bible are generally an unhappy, grumpy, and unloving lot. Even their "Ho, ho, ho" has a sinister ring to it. Their countenance struck terror in the hearts of those who beheld them in biblical times (1 Sam. 17:11). Strangely they seemed always to be opposed to God's people and God's plan.

Since the Bible has many references to giants, it will be profitable for us to turn to its pages and learn what we can on the subject.

THE ORIGIN OF GIANTS

All of us have seen some giant-like human beings, especially among pro basketball players, but these giants are not connected with the giants of scripture. In the Bible we find several words describing the true giants. In Genesis 6:4, where the subject is first introduced, they are called "nephilim." This word seems to have the meaning of "fallen ones." The word would certainly describe their origin. In Deuteronomy 2:11, and in many following passages, they are called "rephaim." This Hebrew word seems to have a meaning of "fearful ones" or "ones who bring discouragement." The "im" ending on all these words is simply the Hebrew plural form.

Other names have been given to these creatures. They are called "anakim" in Deuteronomy 1:28 and in other passages. This word means "giants," or "long-necked ones." It was before the anakim that the Israelite spies reckoned themselves only as grasshoppers (Num. 13:28). In Deuteronomy 2:10-23, we have several other names that people applied to the giants. They were called Emim (terrible ones), Horim, Zamzummim and Avim. In another place they are called Zuzim (prominent or strong ones). We learn from the various scriptures that they were many and strong. They were also large, tall, and powerful. How did such a race of awesome beings get its start in the world?

Back in Genesis 6:1-7, we get a brief summary of the origin of giants. They are the offspring of fallen "sons of God" (v.2). We are told that these angelic heavenly beings became attracted to the daughters of men, and took wives of all whom they chose (v.2). The result was a race of giants born into the world (v.4). Another result was the anger of God poured out in such a way as to limit the life span of humanity (v.3). We are told that these giants appeared at this time, and also at some time afterward (v.4). We can suppose by this that even though the original race of giants was probably destroyed in the flood, there was at least one more spiritual invasion of this type at a later date. This seems evident because we meet up with giants many times in later Bible history.

It is interesting that God seems to express more anger and outrage over the condition of fallen man than of fallen heavenly beings (Gen. 6:3, 5-7). We may wonder if the sinful condition of mankind at this time actually prompted this spiritual invasion. No doubt the people were dabbling in sorcery, witchcraft, and in other occult practices just as they are doing again today. The Bible account immediately preceding the flood indicates that the mind of man was on evil continually (Gen. 6:5). All this kind of activity would make such a spiritual invasion possible. To be sure, God did not neglect to judge these fallen heavenly beings. Their judgment was swift, sure, and permanent, as we see in Jude 1:6 and in 2 Peter 2:4.

THE MISSION OF GIANTS

What can we determine from the episode in Genesis 6? A teacher friend of mine, Don Rost, says that this spiritual invasion was Satan's attempt to mongrelize the human race, and to make it something other than what God had intended. This of course would have foiled the redemptive plan of God. How could the Messiah come to save humanity if people were really no longer human? Perhaps it was also a satanic attempt to somehow preempt the incarnation.

It is also interesting that these ancient giants were concentrated in the area of the Middle East, and particularly around Israel. On the east side of the Jordan, the Rephaim stretched out northward, with the Zuzim and Emim next to them. Then the Horim ruled in the south toward Edom. In other words the eastern approach to the land of Israel, the approach that the Israelites would later use, was completely blocked by giants.

The giants were not only around Israel but they were in Israel, particularly in her prominent cities. Near my old apartment in the southern area of Jerusalem, one could look down into Emek Rephaim (the valley of giants). Through this ancient invasion route these huge enemies of Israel probably once approached Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. There were giants in Hebron or Kiriath Arba as it was called in ancient times. It was named after Arba, father of Anak (Josh. 14:15; 21:11). Both of these were giants. Hebron was a very important city in Israel. It was the abode of the Patriarchs and the place of their burial. It was also the first capital city of David.

There were also giants in Bashan, in Gaza, and in other places. If the mission of these giants was to discourage Israel from occupying the land of Canaan, then we can say that they came very close to succeeding in their mission.

This ancient race of giants was finally conquered and killed out by the Israelites, Moabites, Edomites, and others of Abraham's race. However, it is interesting today that in all the places where giants once ruled, Israel still has "giant-sized" problems. In these places there seems to be a lingering spiritual opposition to God's plan for Israel.

For instance, Hebron, which was ruled by giants, is now a hotbed of Arab discontent, even to the point that it is still often unsafe to travel in that area. In the Arab riots there in 1929, about sixty Jews were slaughtered and some two-hundred injured. The ancient habitation of Jews in Hebron was ended and the survivors were taken to Jerusalem. Only in recent years has it been resettled by Israel. Interestingly, the new Israeli city once again carries the ancient name of Kiryat Arba. It is still named for the giant who once lived there.

Bashan was ruled by the giant Og. Today the Bashan, or Golan as it is now called, is torn by strife. It has been the scene of bloody wars and is often on the verge of being lost by Israel at various peace conferences. Then, there is Gaza where the giants lived and ruled. Hardly is there a place where Israel consistently has more trouble than in the Gaza Strip. Of course, all the land east of the Jordan River where the Rephaim, Zuzim, and Emim lived was stolen away from tiny Israel in the first part of the twentieth century and later became a part of the country of Jordan.

We know from Genesis that giants resulted from a union between spirit and flesh. It was an unholy union by fallen spiritual beings. The whole episode impresses us again that the rebellion in not just an earthly problem, but that it reaches into the heavens. Perhaps, somehow in ways we cannot explain, these giants were able to erect spiritual strongholds in the land and these strongholds are still difficult to overcome, even after thousands of years.

HOW GIANTS ARE OVERCOME

These giants were awesome creatures, even though their union with flesh had probably weakened them to some degree. However, the strength, stature, and prowess of giants give us some indication of the might of spiritual forces that oppose us today. We may also come up against some giant-sized spiritual strongholds with their walls reaching up to the heavens just as the children of Israel did (Deut. 1:28). We need to be prepared to do combat with these forces and to overcome these strongholds.

Giants are overcome by faith. On the other hand, giants overcome us when we fail to believe, as was the case with the Israelite spies. Israel spent an additional forty years in the wilderness partly because the spies were terrified by the giants they saw in the land. However, two of those spies were not terrified at all. They believed in God, and they later entered the land of promise. One was named Joshua and the other, Caleb. It is very interesting that the area around Hebron was given to Caleb (Josh. 14:6-15). Even at the age of eighty-five he moved in faith and took the stronghold. He drove out the sons of Anak (Josh. 15:13-14) who had bewildered his brethren some forty years before. Yes, giants, whether they be natural or spiritual, are overcome by faith.

Young David once visited his brethren who were fighting the Philistines. Just as he came into camp he heard the giant Goliath shouting insults at the cowering men of Israel. Saul and his men were dismayed and terrified at this creature who was over nine feet tall. David, on the other hand, was outraged. In that familiar Bible story we know how young David took a sling and a few stones and destroyed that giant. He came against the giant in the name of the Lord. He came against him with the mighty weapon of faith (1 Sam. 17:45).

As we come against our modern giants we must be careful to remember our spiritual store of weapons. These not only include faith, but they include the Word of God, prayer, and many other types of offensive and defensive gear. The Bible tells us that: "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." (2 Cor.10:4).

The Apostle Paul encourages us in Ephesians 6:10-18 with these words: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."

With such weapons, mighty giants fall just as hard in our day as they did in the days of Caleb and David. Also with these weapons, the walls of strongholds that spiritually reach to the heavens, will come tumbling down.